Smog pulverizing machine

ABSTRACT

This invention relates to apparatus for diluting and dispersing smoke from a furnace. It comprises the drawing of smoke from a furnace or other smoke producing apparatus by pumps into mixture with a flow of warm air. The resulting mixture is serially pumped into a first chamber. Float valves relieve this first chamber into a second or high pressure chamber. When these valves are sufficiently pressed downwardly by pressure in the second chamber, solenoid actuated valves in the second chamber are opened to relieve the mixture at relatively high pressure and velocity into the outside atmosphere. The solenoid actuated exit valves are provided with apparatus to remain in a locked open position until the float chambers rise sufficiently to deactuate this locking apparatus.

United States Patent [191 Rushin SMOG PULVERIZING MACHINE [76] Inventor:Eugene Rushin, 3988 Sheridan St.,

Detroit, Mich. 48214 22 Filed: May 13,1971

21 Appl.No.: 143,000

[52] US. Cl. ..55/2l3, 23/2 R, 23/277 C, 55/261, 55/274, 55/326, 55/332,55/417,

[51] Int. Cl. ..B0ld 50/00 [58] Field of Search ..55/213, 261, 274, 326,332, 55/417, 433, 439, 461, 473; 23/2 R, 277 C;

111 3,715,864 1 Feb. 13,1973

Primary ExaminerDennis E. Talbert, .lr. Attorney-David A. Maxon 5 7ABSTRACT This invention relates to apparatus for diluting and dispersingsmoke from a furnace. It comprises the drawing of smoke from a furnaceor other smoke producing apparatus by pumps into mixture with a flow ofwarm air. The resulting mixture is serially pumped into a firstchamber.Float valves relieve this first chamber into a second or high pressurechamber. When these valves are sufficiently pressed downwardly bypressure in the second chamber, solenoid actuated valves in the secondchamber are opened to relieve the mixture at relatively high pressureand velocity into the outside atmosphere. The solenoid actuated exitvalves are provided with apparatus to remain in a locked open positionuntil the float chambers rise sufficiently to deactuate this lockingapparatus.

6 Claims, 4 Drawing Figures PATENTEDFEB13 I975 3.715.864

SHEET 20F 3 FIGZ) INVENTOR EUGENE RUSHIN mam ATTORNEY PATENTED FEB 1 3I973 SHEET 3 OF 3 INVENTOR EUGENE RUSHIN ATTO RNEY SMOG PULVERIZINGMACHINE This invention relates generally to dispersal of smoke into theatmosphere from industrial and commercial sources. More specifically,this invention relates to the dispersal of smoke into the atmosphere bydiluting the smoke and putting it under pressure, and then relievinginto the atmosphere at predetermined conditions of heat, pressure,oxidation, and velocity.

In the art of dispersal of smoke into the atmosphere from industrial andcommercial sources, a problem has arisen in air pollution in variousforms. One of these problems is the creation of smog. Another of theseproblems is the concentration of particles dropped from slow movingsmoke emanating from chimneys extending into slow moving or still air.It is an object of this invention to improve smoke dispersal byprevention of introduction of smoke into the atmosphere as a slow movingor statis mass.

It is another object of this invention to improve smoke dispersal byhigh speed pressurized dispersal and dilution of smoke with heatconditioned air.

Still another object of this invention is to provide smoke dispersalapparatus with solenoid actuated valves that need be energized onlymomentarily, and then retaining the new position of either open orclosed without further application of electrical power.

These and other objects of this invention are accomplished by providinga source of smoke, such as a furnace, with conduits leading to the lowpressure or suction side of a pump. The smoke is then compressed by thepump and introduced into a pipe of warm air under pressure and moving ata predetermined velocity. Successive stages of introduction of warm airunder pressure and subsequent further pressurization by pumps mixing thefurther diluted smoke and air are provided until the resultant dilutedmixture reaches a second chamber. The mixture is relieved from thischamber through a valve having a variably sized aperture. The motors inthe pump described in the aforementioned stages of compression andmixing are cooled by the introduction of cool clean air that issegregated from the aforementioned warm air and smoke until the coolclean air has passed through the pump. The cool air cools the engines ofthe pumps and prevents the smoke or warm air from coming into contactwith spark producing elements of the engines or pumps. The mixture isvented from the second chamber through the variably sized apertures ofthe valves therein to a third chamber. The size of the apertures arevaried by the position of a float valve. When pressure in the thirdchamber reaches a predetermined level, the float valve moves downwardly,the apertures in the variably apertured valves are made smaller, and themechanical actions of so ensmalling these apertures also actuates anelectric solenoid. In response to this electric solenoid, another set ofvalves relieving the third chamber are opened, and the smoke and warmair mixture in the third chamber is vented to the outside atmosphereunder pressure with heat at a predetermined velocity and at apredetermined dilution and oxidation. A flow of hot water is provided tothe region of the float valve and the emission valves to keep them fromfreezing. This hot water is continuously being pumped and kept warm. Theflow of hot water is sufficiently spaced from the valves and other partsto prevent condensation. The chambers can be cleaned after closing thefloat valves and opening the emission valves to vent the last highpressure chamber.

Other objects of this invention will appear on the following descriptionand appended claims, referring to the accompanying drawings forming apart of thi specification.

ON THE DRAWINGS In FIG. 1 there is shown a partial plan view of aportion of the preferred embodiment of this invention;

FIG. 2 shows a partial plan view in schematic form of another part ofthe preferred embodiment of this invention;

FIG. 3 shows in partial schematic form a plan view of another portion ofthe preferred embodiment of this invention;

and FIG. 4 shows a preferred embodiment of means for controlling theopening and closing of an emission valve in the preferred embodiment ofthis invention.

Before'explaining the present invention in detail, it is to beunderstood that the invention is not limited in its application to thedetails in construction and arrangement of parts illustrated in theaccompanying drawings since the invention is capable of otherembodiments and of being practiced or carried out in various ways.

Also, it is to be understood that the phraseology and terminologyemployed herein are for the purpose of description and not oflimitation.

AS SHOWN ON THE DRAWINGS Smoke emanates from an exit grill 10 of afurnace. This smoke passes into a chamber 12. Conduits 14 lead from thechamber to another chamber 16. These conduits 12 are in the form ofcylindrical pipes 18 that communicate with ports 20 in chamber 12 andports 22 in chamber 16. In the preferred embodiment of this invention,four conduits 14 are provided on different sides of the chamber 12. Apump 24 has a low pressure side 26 communicating with the chamber 16. Ahigh pressure or exit portion 28 of the pump 24 communicates withconduits 30. The conduits 30 in turn communicate with a pipe or conduit32.

A stream of warm, clean air is provided in the conduit 32in thedirection of arrow 34. The pressure and rate of flow of the stream ofwarm air in conduit 32 can be controlled by the valve 36. The conduit 32communicates with a low pressure side 28 of another pump 40 as seen inFIG. 2.

The high pressure or exit portion 42 of the pump 42 in turn communicateswith a conduit member 44. The mixture of warm air and smoke that comethrough the pipe or conduit 32 and in turn is increased in pressure andvelocity by the pump 40 is thus introduced into the conduit 44.Additional flow of warm, clean air is introduced into conduits 46 thatare communicating at intervals with the conduit member 44. Morespecifically, the conduits 46 communicate with the conduit 44 throughports 48. The conduit 44, at its exit portion 46, communicates with alow pressure entry portion 48 of another pump 50. The exit or a highpressure side 52 of this pump in turn communicates with another conduitportion 54. The apparatus shown in FIG. 2 is referred generally by thenumeral 56. A number of these structures 56 are provided in serial orderso that successive stages of pumping and introduction of additionalflows of warm, clean air are provided to further dilute and increase thevelocity pressure and oxidation'of the smoke and air mixture.

The last conduit 54 of the serially arranged structures 56 if fed into abaffle portion 58. This baffle portion 58 has portions 60 that are lowerthan other portions 62 of the baffle. Heavy particles, sparks and otherdebris that are heavier than gas tend to drop to the bottom portions 60of the baffle 58. The baffle can be periodically cleaned by openingaperture 64 and removing the debris.

The exit portion 66 communicates with a chamber 68. Exit from thechamber 68 is provided by float valves 70. The float valves 70 ride inenclosures 72. The float valves 70 are free to translate vertically inthe enclosures 72. The enclosures 72 communicate with the chamber 68 bymeans of apertures 74. The enclosure 72 communicates with anotherchamber 78 by means of aperture 76.

Exit valves 80 are provided on the chamber 78. When open, these exitvalves 80 allow a gaseous mixture under pressure in chamber 78 to ventinto the outside atmosphere through vents 82.

v A lower lever is hinged on the interior surface of the enclosure 72below the bottom of the floating valve 70 when this valve is in a normal(shown) or in a relatively upward open position. This lower lever ishinged at a location marked by numeral 84.

Another lever, is located at numeral 86, on the interior of theenclosure 72 above the float valve 70, when that valve is in a normal(shown) or in a relatively closed or lower position.

When the valve 70 is translated vertically to a lower position, due tohigher pressure in the upper chamber 78 with respect'to pressure in thelower chamber 68, the lower lever is moved downwardly.

When the upper chamber 78 has a lesser higher pressure with respect tothe pressure in lower chamber 68, the float valve 70 moves upwardly,allowing the lower lever to return to a normal position, and forcing theupward lever to move upwardly.

When the lower lever is moved from its normal position downwardly, asolenoid is actuated which opens the exit valves 80. Apparatus to bedescribed hereinafter, holds the exit valve 84 open while the floatvalve 70 is in the aforementioned downward vertical position.

When the float vavle 70 is in the aforementioned higher verticalposition, and the upper lever is moved upwardly, another solenoid isactuated which closes the exit valves 80. Further apparatus to bedescribed hereinafter, holds the exit valve in this closed positionuntilthe float valves moved downwardly from the aforementioned upwardposition.

Cool air is provided into the portion 90 of the pump 24. This portion 90is segregated from regions in which warm air or smoke circulates.

Hot water is pumped through lines 92. These lines pass near the floatingvalves 70 and exit valves 80 and are sufficiently separated fromaforementioned gases to prevent condensation and yet keep the valveswarm and prevent sticking.

In the preferred embodiment of this invention, a pressure gauge 94communicates with the last high pressure chamber 78, and indicates theamount of gaseous pressure therein. By using the pressure gauge, thepositions 84 and 86 of the lower and upper levers respectively withinthe enclosures 72 can be calibrated for selective opening and closing ofthe exit valves 80.

The top portion 94a of the float valves fit into the apertures 76. Thesurfaces of the portions 94a correspond with the surfaces of theapertures 76 in such a manner that when the float valve 70 is lowered,the space in aperture 76 through which gases can pass is made smaller.Correspondently, when the float valve 70 is raised, the spaces inaperture 76 through which gases can escape is made larger. In thismanner, the feeding of gaseous mixtures into the high chamber 78 can bereduced as the pressure within the chamber 78 increases.

FIG. 4 shows the preferred embodiment of the solenoid actuated exitvalves and corresponding lock opened and lock closed positions. Thisapparatus is referred to generally by the numeral 100.

A first solenoid 102 corresponds to a valve opening mechanism andactuates it. The solenoid 102 comprises a coil 104 that is cylindricallyshaped. A soft iron member 106 translates in the interior of thiscylinder. The soft iron member 106 is fixed to a rod 108. A conicalmember is fixed to the rod 108. The conical member 110 has a surfacethat is the male corresponding surface of a female corresponding conicalsurface in an aperture 112. The rod 108 slidesthrough a cop 1 14. Thecap 1 14 is fixed to the wall of the chamber 78. A spring 116 urges theconical male closing member 110 to close within the surface of theaperture 112. A hollow cylinder 118 is fixed to the rod 108. The centralaxis of the cylinder 118 corresponds with the central axis of thecylindrically shaped rod 108. Thus, the cylindrical can 118, enclosesthe solenoid and translates in response to the translation of the softiron member 106. Dog members 120 are fixed to the end of the can 118opposite from the end of the can that is fixed to the rod 108. Alatching member 122 catches the dog as the dog translates towards thelatching member 122. Thus, when the solenoid 102 is actuated, the softiron member 106 translates valve aperture member 110 into a lock openposition by latching mechanism 122.

The immediately aforementioned latching mechanism provides the functionof allowing only a short excitation of the opening solenoid 104. Afterthis excitation isapplied, because of the movement of the soft ironmember 106 due to the excitation of the sole- I noid, and thecorresponding translation of the rod 108 and can member 118, the valveaperture 112 is held in an open position, allowing the gases; to exitthere through. The valve is held in the open position by the relativeseparation of the conical member 110 from the corresponding aperture 112, until the can member 118 is moved towards closure.

The solenoid 102 is actuated when the lower lever member at position 84is moved downwardly, thereby closing a switch sending electricalexcitation to the solenoid.

When the closed valve 70 moves upwardly to move the upper lever atposition 86, a circuit is closed providing excitation to the solenoid132. The solenoid 134 is then energized, and a soft iron member 136 iscaused to translate in a direction towards the aperture 112. The

soft iron member 136 is fixed to a rod 138. It is also fixed to the canmember 118. Thus, when the soft iron member 136 is translated due toactuation of the solenoid 132, the can member 118 is moved towardsclosing the aperture 112 by moving the conical member 110 into contactwith its surfaces. During this movement, the dogs 110 are translatedaway from the latching members 122. Additional dogs are fixed to thecannister 119 to cooperate with other latching mechanism to lock thecannister in place in a closed position after the translation of thesoft iron member 136.

Thus, after the second or closing solenoid is actuated, the exit valve80 remains in a closed position until the first or opening solenoid 102is actuated.

As in the first solenoid need only be actuated momentarily by electricenergy. The valve remains closed due to the additional latchingmechanism provided which actuates after translation of the cannister 118toward closure.

It can be appreciated from the foregoing description that a smogpulverizing machine has been provided which ejects a diluted mixture ofsmoke and air into the atmosphere under high pressure and velocities.introduction into the atmosphere is assured under these conditionsbecause of a valving arrangement that provides positive opened andclosed positions that are secured by latches and need be actuated onlyby momentary applications of electrical current. The reliability andlonglasting characteristics of a solenoid are thus preserved bysubjecting them to minimum amounts of excitation. The pressure,oxidation, dilution and velocity of the escaping gaseous mixture can becalibrated and readily controlled by use of the aforementionedapparatus. The prevention of slow moving smoky mixture into theatmosphere is thus prevented. This contributes to the prevention of smogand effects as substantial improvement in smoke abatement and control.

I claim:

1. In smoke dispersal apparatus, the improvements comprising:

means conducting smoke to a first chamber;

a pump communicating with said first chamber and forcing the smoke underpressure and velocity into a first conduit;

means forcing a flow of warm, clean air into said first conduit andmixing with said smoke;

plurality of pumping and mixing means being fed by said first conduitand further increasing the pressure and velocity on said mixture andintroducing additional flows of warm, clean air into mixture therewith;

a baffle being fed by said pumping and diluting means;

a second chamber being fed by said baffle;

an enclosure being fed by said second chamber;

a valve floating in said enclosure;

an aperture in said enclosure having an area for allowing gases to passthere through that is responsive to the vertical position of saidfloating valve;

a third chamber being fed by said aperture;

and an exit valve leading from said third chamber to the atmosphere;whereby the smoke is dlluted; pressurized and ejected into theatmosphere through said exit valves at predetermined conditions ofvelocity, heat, pressure and oxidation.

2. The apparatus in claim 1 wherein said exit valves are opened andclosed by an opening solenoid and closing solenoid respectively; a pairof levers hinged on said enclosure and moved downwardly and upwardlyrespectively for opening and closing respectively said opening andclosing solenoids by complete circuits conducting electrical energythereto momentarily; and means latching said opening and closingsolenoids into an opening and closing position respectively of saidexiting valves.

3. The apparatus of claim 1 and means conducting cool, clean air to saidpumps and pumping and dispersing means that segregates cool, clean airfrom said mixture of warm, clean air and smoke.

4. The apparatus of claim 1 and means conducting warm water near saidfloat valve and said exit valve; and means segregating the flow of saidwarm water from said gases whereby condensation is prevented.

5. The apparatus of claim 2 and means deactuating electrical energy frombeing conducted to said solenoids.

6. The apparatus of claim 1 and a filter separating solid particles fromsaid mixture in said baffle.

1. In smoke dispersal apparatus, the improvements comprising: meansconducting smoke to a first chamber; a pump communicating with saidfirst chamber and forcing the smoke under pressure and velocity into afirst conduit; means forcing a flow of warm, clean air into said firstconduit and mixing with said smoke; plurality of pumping and mixingmeans being fed by said first conduit and further increasing thepressure and velocity on said mixture and introducing additional flowsof warm, clean air into mixture therewith; a baffle being fed by saidpumping and diluting means; a second chamber being fed by said baffle;an enclosure being fed by said second chamber; a valve floating in saidenclosure; an aperture in said enclosure having an area for allowinggases to pass there through that is responsive to the vertical positionof said floating valve; a third chamber being fed by said aperture; andan exit valve leading from said third chamber to the atmosphere; wherebythe smoke is diluted; pressurized and ejected into the atmospherethrough said exit valves at predetermined conditions of velocity, heat,pressure and oxidation.
 1. In smoke dispersal apparatus, theimprovements comprising: means conducting smoke to a first chamber; apump communicating with said first chamber and forcing the smoke underpressure and velocity into a first conduit; means forcing a flow ofwarm, clean air into said first conduit and mixing with said smoke;plurality of pumping and mixing means being fed by said first conduitand further increasing the pressure and velocity on said mixture andintroducing additional flows of warm, clean air into mixture therewith;a baffle being fed by said pumping and diluting means; a second chamberbeing fed by said baffle; an enclosure being fed by said second chamber;a valve floating in said enclosure; an aperture in said enclosure havingan area for allowing gases to pass there through that is responsive tothe vertical position of said floating valve; a third chamber being fedby said aperture; and an exit valve leading from said third chamber tothe atmosphere; whereby the smoke is diluted; pressurized and ejectedinto the atmosphere through said exit valves at predetermined conditionsof velocity, heat, pressure and oxidation.
 2. The apparatus in claim 1wherein said exit valves are opened and closed by an opening solenoidand closing solenoid respectively; a pair of levers hinged on saidenclosure and moved downwardly and upwardly respectively for opening andclosing respectively said opening and closing solenoids by completecircuits conducting electrical energy thereto momentarily; and meanslatching said opening and closing solenoids into an opening and closingposition respectively of said exiting valves.
 3. The apparatus of claim1 and means conducting cool, clean air to said pumps and pumping anddispersing means that segregates cool, clean air from said mixture ofwarm, clean air and smoke.
 4. The apparatus of claim 1 and meansconducting warm water near said float valve and said exit valve; andmeans segregating the flow of said warm water from said gases wherebycondensation is prevented.
 5. The apparatus of claim 2 and meansdeactuating electrical energy from being conducted to said solenoids.